Farnham Community Play

FEASIBILITY STUDY & RECOMMENDATIONS

July 2010

The Community Play Set up Committee

Joe Michel, Christine McDerment, Gina Laurie, Gill Cox, Celia Sandars, Richard Sandars, Jenny Floyer, Anne Cooper, Fiona Channon, Rosemary Wisbey, Abi Tomney, Charli Tomney, Brian Martin, Janet Martin, David Cooper, John Price, David Burkin. Meetings were attended and advised by Jon Oram of Claque Theatre

FARNHAM COMMUNITY PLAY FEASIBILITY REPORT

CONTENTS

Page No.

1 LOCATION OF THE COMMUNITY PLAY 1

2 COMMUNITY DEMOGAPHICS 2

3 COMMUNITY GROUPS & SERVICES 3

4 DISTRICT AND COUNTY SERVICES & FACILITIES 10

5 PRODUCTION COSTS 15

6 INCOME, SPONSORSHIP AND FUNDING 17

7 COMMUNITY THEMES AND SUBJECTS 21

8 RECOMMENDATIONS 25

ENCLOSURES

A Policies B Constitution of the Community Play Steering Committee C Volunteer Practice Guide

1 LOCATION OF COMMUNITY

Naming the Community Play A question still hangs over the name of the community that the play project should serve. It’s very clear that the set up committee want a name that is inclusive of Farnham and the surrounding villages in the District, to stress their desire that the project is inclusive. The name Our Farnham has been used for the website and blog.

Recommendation : The name should be descriptive of the project catchment’s area to stress the inclusive nature of the project and should be a name that’s understood locally and by the potential visiting audience. Our feeling is ‘The Farnham Play’ or ‘The Farnham and District Play’ or “The Waverley Play” are more suitable that ‘Our Farnham’ which could be interpreted as exclusive to Farnham townspeople.

Project catchment area

Recommendation: The project centres on Farnham and surrounding villages in the Waverley District but is inclusive of anyone, both within and outside the district who wants to participate and contribute their energy to celebrating these communities .

Towns within 20 miles (potential audience) Aldershot Basingstoke Camberley Crondall Crookham Farnborough Fleet and Church Guildford Odiham Sandhurst Woking

Main Road & Rail links Rail Links: Direct trains running to Aldershot, Alton, Woking, Surbiton, Clapham Junction and London Waterloo North East A3 from London to Farnham North East A31 from Guildford North West A30 – A287 from Basingstoke South A287 from South West M3 – A31 from Winchester

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2 COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPICS

Major Employers University of Creative Arts (UCA) Sainsbury’s Farnham Hospital BAE Systems, Frimley Guildford & Waverley PCT Nokia, Farnborough Diagonal PLC

House Prices At the time of writing the total number of properties for sale in Farnham equals 262. The average price of properties is £365,434 with the median price as £295,000 (Source: www.home.co.uk ). The average price of a two bed property in this area is higher than the national average of £187, 894

Employment Figures • Low unemployment (1.7%) with most jobs n the Real Estate and Wholesale & Retail sectors. • Average working hours in this area for men are 42 and for women are 31

Population • Average age is 39. • A high percentage of people are married people at 29.5%. • There are 15.3 people per square kilometre (Source: www.mouseprice.com/areaguide )

• The district is 97.39% White • The Asian, Chinese and Mixed population amkes up 2.61% (Source: A Vision for Farnham 2007)

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3 COMMUNITY GROUPS AND SERVICES

Special Needs Groups

Name Addre ss Contact Creative Response Vernon House Mike Prinsep West Street 01252 716876 Farnham [email protected] GU9 7DR Disability St James Avenue Paul Wilson Challengers Farnham 01483 579390 [email protected] GU9 9QF Helen Arkell Arkell Lane 01252 797509 Dyslexia Centre Frensham tanderson@arkellcentre,org.uk Farnham Surrey GU10 3BL More House Moons Hill 01252 792303 School Frensham [email protected] Farnham Surrey GU10 3AP

Arts & Drama Societies

Name Address Contact Farnham & Bourne South Farnham [email protected] Choral Society School Menin Way Farnham Surrey GU9 8DY Farnham Art [email protected] Society Waverley Singers [email protected] Wessex Chamber [email protected] Choir Vivaldi Singers Jacqueline Protheroe 01252 332828 Farnham Amateur Church House 01420 520135 Operatic Society Union Road Farnham GU9 7PT

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Arts & Drama Societies continued

Name Address Contact Farnham Amateur Big Institute Russell Grute Band (FABB) 07787 531614 [email protected]

Farnham Brass Band 4 Oast House Crescent 01252 668813 Farnham [email protected] GU9 0NR Farnham Shakespeare 01252 713721 Company [email protected]

Farnham Youth Choir PO Box 84 01252 717173 Farnham [email protected] GU9 8YW Guildbury’s Theatre 01483 577730 [email protected] New Farnham Repertory 2 The Grange Blackmoor 01420 473586 Actors Company Liss Hampshire GU33 6BP Tilford Bach Society TBS Secretary [email protected] Fairlawne Kiln Way Grayshott GU26 6JF Amateur Dawn Barrow Dramatics Society 01428 714375 (CADS) [email protected]

Interest Clubs

Name Address Contact Farnham Theatre 4 Nutshell Lane [email protected] Association Upper Hale Farnham GU9 0HG Aldershot & Farnham Hale Institute 01252 325828 Camera Club Upper Hale [email protected]

Farnham Juggling Club Alton Sports Centre, Tim Humpreys GU34 1ST 01256 704733

Surrey Border Film & St Joan’s Centre 01483 728371 Video Makers 19 Waverley Lane webmanager@surreyborder. Farnham org.uk GU9 8DJ

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Local History Societies

Name Address Contact Bourne Conservation 7 Lancaster Avenue David Todd Group Farnham 01252 715807 GU9 8JY [email protected]

Farnham (Building 60 West Street 01252 722975 Preservation) Trust Farnham [email protected] GU9 7EA Farnham Society 17 High Street 01252 790660 [email protected] Farnham o.uk GU10 4BT Farnham District Museum of Farnham 01252 721576 Museum Society Wilmer House [email protected] West Street Farnham GU9 7DX Friends of Farnham 12 Northbrook Road David Picken Museum Aldershot 01252 658124 GU11 3HE [email protected] Old Farnhamians 7 Georgia Close 01264 332766 Association Andover SP10 2UF Rustic Support Group of Reeds Road 01252 795571 The Rural Life Centre Tilford [email protected] Farnham GU10 2DL William Cobbett Society 10 Grenehurst Way 01730 262060 Petersfield GU31 4AZ Surrey Archaeological Castle Arch Alan Thomas Society Guildford [email protected] GU1 3SX

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Business Clubs

Name Address Contact Farnham Chamber 5 Fairview Gardens 01252 734106 of Commerce Farnham [email protected] GU9 0NG Farnham & District Wings House 01252 713170 Charities Support Wings Road Group Farnham The Hedgehogs Rodger Hobbs 01252 719661 [email protected]

Farnham Lions 2 Birdhaven Phil Alexander Farnham [email protected] GU10 4PB www.farnhamlions.org.uk

Waverley Lodge Farnham Masonic [email protected] Hall 42 Castle Street GU9 7JB Rotary Club of Bush Hotel, Bob Lampard Farnham Weyside Farnham 01252 725685 [email protected]

Farnham Round Hop Blossom Richard Bousfiled Table Long Garden Walk [email protected]

Soroptimist The Lorrels 01252 794993 International Club of Tilford Road [email protected] Waverley Tilford GU10 2EJ

Issue Clubs

Name Address Contact Amnesty St Andrew’s Church 01252 790079 International Parish Rooms [email protected] Farnham Church Lane Farnham Guildford & Red House Hilary Griffiths Waverley Friends of Station Road 01252 831179 the Earth Milford [email protected] GU8 5AD WWF-UK Panda House 01483 426333 Weyside Park [email protected] Godalming GU8 1XR

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Political Groups

Name Addr ess Contact Farnham Ivy Lane Alan Hunt Conservative Club Downing Street 01252 727399 Farnham [email protected] GU9 7PQ South West Surrey 2 Royal Parade 01428 604520 Conservative Tilford Road Association Hindhead Surrey GU26 6TD Liberal Democrats South Street 01252 723549 Liberal Club Farnham Surrey GU9 7RP The Liberal 12 Youlden Drive Democrat Party Camberley Surrey GU15 1AL The Labour Party 9 Martyr Road 01483 302930 Guildford Surrey GU1 4LF

Churches

Name Address Contact St Andrews C of E Middle Church Lane Rev. Andrew Tucker Parish Church Farnham 01252 715412 Surrey GU9 7PW Farnham Methodist South Street Rev Vida Foday Church Farnham 01252 820 665 GU9 7QU United Reformed South Street Rev Michael Hopkins Church Farnham Surrey GU9 7Q Baptist Church The Hart Rev John Ross Farnham 01252 726 830 Surrey GU9 7HA St Joan of Arc R C Tilford Road Father Paul Jennings Church 19 Tilford Road 01252 716 711 Farnham GU9 8DJ

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Churches continued

Name Address Contact Church of the Holy Heath End Father David Obsborne Family Alma Lane 01252 321422 Upper Hale, [email protected] Farnham Surrey All Saints Crondall Revd Karen Hutchinson Croft Lane [email protected] Crondall Hampshire GU10 5QF Farnham Vineyard The Vineyard Centre Alastair & Alison Forman Church House, 01252 737586 Union Road [email protected] Farnham Surrey GU9 9HF St James' Vicar: Church Lane Rev. Clive Richardson Rowledge 01252 792402 Surrey [email protected] GU10 4EN St Mary The Virgin Parish of Revd Eunice Hicks Frensham. 01252 792137 [email protected]

St Peter's, School Hill, Rev. Dr Anne Gell Wrecclesham Surrey 01252 716431 [email protected]

Jubilee Church: c/o 56 Weydon Hill S Gubb Road 01252 820203 . Farnham [email protected] Surrey

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Schools

Name Postcode Headteacher Telephone No. All Hallows Catholic GU9 9HF Mrs E Lutzeier 01252 319211 Hale Primary GU9 0LR Mrs J Trantom 01252 716729 Heath End Secondary GU9 9BN Mr D Hoggins 01252 733371 Pilgrims Way Primary GU9 8QH Miss Wilkinson 01252 721079 Potters Gate Primary GU9 7BB Miss Whittington 01252 715619 Rowledge C of E Primary GU10 4BW Mr R Catchpole 01252 792346 St James' C of E Primary GU8 6DH Mrs A Tann 01252 703248 Weydon Secondary GU9 8UG Mr J Winter 01252 725052 St Peter's C of E Primary GU9 8TF Mr D Roberts 01252 714115 St Polycarps Primary GU9 8BQ Ms A Gunn 01252 716307 South Farnham Junior GU9 8DY Mr A Carter 01252 716155 Junior GU10 2AE Mr D Jeffs 01252 782321 William Cobbett Junior GU9 9ER Mrs L Peppin 01252 312772 All Saints C of E Infant GU10 2DA Ms J Campbell 01252 792491 The Bourne Infant GU10 3PE Mrs J Du Cros 01252 716398 Folly Hill Infant GU9 0DB Mrs C Green 01252 716121 St John's C of E Infant GU10 2JE Mrs A Harper 01428 713216 St Andrew's C of E Infant GU9 7PW Miss M McGrath 01252 716305 Weybourne Infant GU9 9DA Mrs J Earney 01252 669340 St Mary's C of E Infant Frensham Evie Page 01252 792406 The Abbey Special GU9 8DY Mr C Gardiner 01252 725059 Ridgeway Special GU9 8HB Mr D Morgan 01252 724562 Frensham Heights GU10 4EA Andrew Fisher 01252 792561

Adult Education & Colleges of Further Education

Name Address Contact UCA University for Falkner Road Principal Dr P Ashton Creative Arts Farnham, Surrey 01252 722441 GU9 7DS GU9 7DS Farnham College Morley Road 01252 716988 Farnham Surrey GU9 8LU Farnborough Boundary Road 01252 407040 College of Farnborough Technology Hants GU14 6SB NETS Bible College Ellel Pierrepoint, 01252 794060: Frensham Road [email protected] Farnham GU10 3DL Farnborough Sixth Prospect Avenue 01252 688 200 Form College Farnborough Surrey GU14 8JX

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4 DISTRICT & COUNTY SERVICES & FACILITIES

Local Authority

Farnham Town Council Town Council Office South Street Farnham Surrey GU9 7RN

Mayor: Cllr John Ward (Cons): [email protected] Town Clerk: Roland Potter: [email protected] Development: Sheila Rayner: [email protected] Other Councillors: Cllrs Roger Steel: [email protected] Cllr Carole Cockburn: [email protected] Pat Frost (Cons): [email protected] Janet Maines (Ind): [email protected]

District Council

Waverley Borough Council The Burys Godalming Surrey GU7 1HR

Leader: Cllr Robert Knowles (Cons) Deputy: Cllr Mike Band (Cons): [email protected] Leisure Portfolio: Cllr Roger Steel (Cons): [email protected] Leisure: Cllr Diane James (Ind): [email protected] Community: Cllr Victor Duckett (Ind): [email protected] Mayor: Cllr Carole Cockburn: [email protected] Deputy Mayor: Cllr. Richard Gates: [email protected] Chief Executive: Mary Orton: [email protected] Leisure and Youth: Kelvin Mills: [email protected] Economy: Iain Lynch: [email protected] Arts Officer: Charlotte Gardiner: [email protected]

County Council

Surrey County Council The three below are also Waverley Borough & Farnham Local Office Farnham Town Councillors: Farnham Hospital Cllr Pat Frost (Cons): [email protected] Hale Road David Munro (Cons): [email protected] Farnham Denise Le Gal: [email protected] Surrey GU9 9Q

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Arts Officers

South West Surrey MP: Press officer: Jeremy Hunt, (Cons) Laura Anstey Shadow Secretary of State for Culture [email protected] [email protected]

Youth Clubs

Name Address Contact 1st Farnham 28 Lime Avenue Debbie Muchmore Guides Alton 01420 87804 GU34 2AE [email protected]

Farnham Sea TS SWIFTSURE, 01252 310783 Cadets Lower Weybourne [email protected] Lane Farnham SCL Holiday Frensham Heights 0845 644 5747 Activities School [email protected] Rowledge GU10 4EA 1st Farnham Boys South Street 07786 893529 Brigade Methodist Church [email protected] Farnham GU9 7RN 1st Rowledge c/o 22 Shakespeare Rachel Vasey Guides Gardens 01252 51300 Farnborough [email protected] GU14 9QT 3rd Farnham Daniel Hall [email protected] Scouts Long Garden Walk,Farnham 40 Degreez.org.uk Dogflud Way 01252 727087 Farnham [email protected] GU9 7UD 4th Farnham 07005 850830 (Tongham) Scout [email protected] Group 5th Farnham c/o 4 Vicarage Hill, 01252 715747 (Bourne) Scout Farnham [email protected] Group GU9 8HG Archie’s Launch The Hart 01252 726110 Pad Farnham [email protected]

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Youth Clubs continued

Name Address Contact Bourne Children & 12 Firgrove Hill 01252 820247 Youth Initiative Farnham [email protected] GU9 8LQ Farnham Badgers Lion and Lamb Way 01483 567163 The Hart [email protected] Farnham Farnham District 18 Barrie Road 01252 682861 Scouts Upper Hale [email protected] Farnham GU9 0DU

Perform Drama United Reformed 0845 400 4000 workshops for Church Hall [email protected] children age 4-8 South Street Farnham GU9 7RP Pursued By A Bear 01252 723237 Theatre Company Bridge Square [email protected] Farnham St John Ambulance St John House 01252 715556 The Hart [email protected] Farnham GU9 7HA Stagecoach PO Box 7131 01252 844693 Theatre Arts School Hook [email protected] RG27 8GW

Social Services

Surrey and Hants Borders Trust Community Mental Health Team (Farnham CMHT) 01483 782095

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Press & Local Media

Name Address Contact Notes The 114/115 West Corina Larby Owned by Sir Ray Farnham Street 01252 899221 Tindle of Tindle Herald Farnham newsroom1.herald@i Newspapers, Old Court nternet-today.co.uk House, Union road, Farnham 01252 735667 The Editors Ted and Jean A freebie Farnham Farnham Parratt Herald publication Diary [email protected] m 01252 713477 The Surrey A freebie under and Hants Farnham Herald News editorial The News Surrey & It is difficult to get this and Mail / Berkshire Media group to cover events in Surrey Ltd. Farnham due to Tindle Advertiser / Stoke Mill Newspapers in Farnham What’s On/ Woking Road Get Surrey Guildford Online GU1 1QA BBC South Tom Hepworth Today TV 0230 226201 [email protected] o.uk

Meridian Gavin Grey ITV regional news TV 07801 522899 Cathy Alexander 01635 552266 BBC Sara Aspinall Based in Guildford Southern 01483 306306 Counties Radio DELTA James Hockey Owned by Sir Ray Radio 0771 638874 Tindle

Kerry Aitken 01428 65197 BBC Surrey Nick Wallis 07976 432174 County County Sound Rob Wallace 01483 300964 Sound / Radio Eagle Dolphin House Radio North Street Guildford GU1 4AA

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Theatres Companies, Concert Halls & Arts Centres

Name Address Contact The Haymarket The Anvil 01256 819797 Theatre & Anvil Arts Churchill Way Centre Basingstoke RG21 7QR Central Studio Cliddesden Road 01256 417511 Basingstoke RG21 3HF

Camberley Theatre Knoll Road 01276 707600 Camberley GU15 3SY

Yvonne Arnaud Millbrook 01483 440000 City Centre, Guildford GU1 3UX The Leatherhead 7 Church Street 01372 365 141 Theatre Leatherhead KT22 8DN The Electric Onslow Street 01483 444 789 Theatre Guildford Surrey GU1 4SZ The Victoria 427 Woodham Lane 019323 45365 Woodham Addlestone Surrey KT15 3QE Farnham Rep Brenda Longman 01420 473586 The Princes Hall Princes Way 01252 329 155 Aldershot Hampshire GU11 1NX The Anvil Churchill Way 01256 819797 Basingstoke RG21 7QR Farnham Maltings Gavin Stride, Director 01252 726234 Waverley Youth Jane McGibbon Theatre 01252 745412 The Fairfield Centre Council Road 01256 321621 Basingstoke RG21 3DH The West End 48 Queen's Road 01252 330 040 Centre Aldershot GU11 3JD

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4 PRODUCTION COSTS

Professional fees Claque standard for professional fees:

Director: £650 per week Designer: £600 per week Assistant Staff: £450 per week

Performance Venue Recommendation : We have not yet located a suitable venue We recommend further searches. In assessing suitability bear in mind the following:

• Facilities (water, changing, parking, kitchens etc) • Dimensions (Audience capacity) • Availability • Accessibility • Cost • Additional needs (Toilets, security, etc) • Power supply

The time of year is wrong for a tent. The venue will be needed for 4 weeks. One week to build stages and rig lighting, one week full cast rehearsals and two weeks performances. A tent in a field will need port-a-loos (5 minimum) generator power. Booking would need to be made by December 2010.

Initially allow for: £6,000

Workshop Play Office Venues We have as yet to locate a suitable venue .

Recommendation: further searches. In assessing suitability bear in mind the following:

• Facilities (water, electricity supply, parking) • Size (making areas, storage, wet and dry making., large scale building potential) • Availability for three months (Free access, restrictions, parking, vehicle access • Cost

Costs cannot be assessed. Allow £2,000 per month x 4 months = £8,000

Rehearsal Meeting Venues Recommendation: Potential rehearsal spaces may exist in the following needs approaches and negotiations as early as possible

• St Andrew’s Church • The Castle • Farnham College • University of Creative Arts • Schools

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Recommendation : Further searches. In assessing suitability rehearsal spaces bear in mind the following:

• Facilities (kitchen, double space, storage, access, parking) • Availability (security, times - diary) • Size (maximum numbers and dimensions) • Cost (hourly rate or block booking rate)

Try and get the largest space possible full cast calls and large scene calls. Two large venues twice a week and every other Sunday afternoon would be ideal

Allow £30 per night x 40 nights = £1,200 Sunday large spaces £75 x 5 = 375

Allow £1,875 in total

Travel Distances and Fares The distance from Farnham to Guildford, the county town of Surrey, is 11 miles or 20 minutes by road. To London, it is 42 miles and approximately 60 minutes by train. Fares to London cost £12.80 return. Hire vans around £80 per day plus petrol. Tunbridge Wells (claque base) to Farnham 120 miles round trip £48 trip.

Recommendation: Travel costs @ 40p per mile. Allow 60 miles per day during production = £24 per day x 84 days £2,016 Other travel allow about 8 x London Trips - £100 Hire van allow = £400 (5 x hires at £80)

Total recommended travel cost allowance = £2,300

Accommodation We will need accommodation for three months for 4 people and occasional hospitality for visiting tutor, technicians and design team.

Recommendation: Search out accommodation from within the community. Contributions may be asked

Allow a min £1,500 contribution.

Telephone Company Recommendation: Mobile phone rather than installations pay as go box office line total Rehearsal line pay as you go total £100 Design line £30 per month on contract - £90 Play Office line: £30 a month on contract - £90

Total £280

Public Liability Insurance Annual Claque has Public Liability which will need upgrading dependent on sites, numbers etc. Dependent on the upgrade price Claque will cover this within their administration fee.

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5 INCOME, SPONSORSHIP & FUNDING

Theatre Ticket Price Ticket prices for The Maltings in Farnham range between £6 - £14. Ticket prices for The Haymarket and Anvil Arts Centre in Basingstoke range between £8 - £25.

Recommendation: Ticket price to average £9.00 with concessions of 25% on tickets for non-earners. Ticket prices should range between £7.00 (lowest concession) and £12

Box Office Potential

Recommendation: Allow for a cast and crew and front of house of 130 people and an audience of 300. Full capacity: 430 people.

In estimating box consider a 70% capacity – and average of 225 people per show. It’s traditionally busier in Week Two so you may consider having higher prices towards the end of the run.

100% Capacity = 3,600 75% Capacity = 2,700

Box Office potential on average £9.00 x 2,700 = £24,300

Local Fundraising and Marketing Local fundraising events during the year and possible draw running for three months prior and during the play should raise £4,000. Play scripts and Programmes should raise £2,000

Total: £6,000

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FUNDING POTENTIAL

Arts Council South East Visit web site: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk Sovereign House Church Street Brighton BN1 1RA Phone: 0845 300 6200 Fax: 0870 242 1257

Good track record of favourable funding in the past (three community plays; core funding for Claque on two projects) Application has no fixed deadline. There is a three-month turnaround.

Recommend application of: £45,000 - £50,000

Awards for All Now not arts orientated but it may be possible to attach a parallel project, this would, however only pay for itself so would cancel itself out in terms of the play project

Farnham District Council Contact: See section 4

Surrey County Council Contact: See section 4

Waverly Borough Council Contact: See section 4

Surrey Community Foundation Administrates a number of grants 1 Bishops wharf Walnut Tree Close Guidlford Surrey GU1 4RA

Telephone: 01483 555644 E Mail: info@surreycommunity foundation.org.uk Web site: www. surreycommunity foundation.org.uk

Among the grants they administrate is:

Grassroots Local Grassroots incentives Grassroots Grants is a three-year scheme to March 2011, aimed at very small local community groups.

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Who can apply?

Not for profit, voluntary or community groups who: • Have been active in their local community for a year or more • Have an average income over three years of less than £30,000 per year, taken as an average turnover for the last 3 financial years (or over the life of the group if less than three years old). • Work for the benefit of their local community • Are led by volunteers • Have a written set of rules or constitution

Could expect £5,000 max

Your Heritage Applications and guidelines are all online at www. hlf.org.uk Strongest possibility for parallel project applications between £5,000 and £50,000

Government employment incentives Those existing may change but the government is committed to finding 1.5 million jobs in the private sector so keep eye on new schemes to help employment initiatives – opportunities for young work experience schemes etc

Local Trusts and Foundations Name Contact Details The Farnham Sec. Margaret Daniels The Institute gives Institute T: 01252 711852 grants to one- off Charity E: [email protected] events related to W: www.farnhaminstitutecharity.org.uk Farnham town

Bishop’s c/o Jo Aylwin Meadow Trust Kidd Rapinet Sovereign House 17 South Street Farnham Surrey GU9 7QU T: 01252 713242 E: [email protected] W: www.bishopsmeadowtrust.org.uk

Local Business Sponsorship & Advertising

Name Contact Farnham Round Table Richard Bousfield E: [email protected]

Vice Chairman Leigh Adams E: [email protected]

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Name Contact Lions Club Farnham 2 Birdhaven Sandrock Hill Rd Wrecclesham Farnham GU10 4PB T: 0845 833 7848

Recommendation: Claque can supply a sponsorship pack. Advertising in the programme we would estimate with fair rates for local traders and business a total of

Recommended target £4,000

NB Business incentive funding (ABSA) Should you get sponsorship the Association of Business Sponsorship of the Arts partnership-funding scheme will match any new arts funding over £1,000.

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6 COMMUNITY THEMES & SUBJECTS

The following are not suggestions simply facts and figures we have gleaned so far from meetings, word of mouth and questionnaires.

Major Historical events

• Mesolithic flint industry - found at site of Monkton Lane Sewage Works in 1930. Neolithic barrow found at Badshot Lea in 1935 Iron Age flint implements found at Caesar’s Camp near Upper Hale, Bronze Age burials at the Sands. Roman kilns found in Farnham Park and pottery shards found all around Farnham. The Saxons founded the town’s first Christian Church on the site of the present Parish Church of St Andrews. Farnham timber provided the roof of the place of Westminster in 1395 (facts sourced from Farnham Past’ by Jean Parratt).

• Kings, Queens and Bishops - 12th century - Cistercian monks became established at Waverley Abbey near Farnham and the Bishops of Winchester at . Kings John, Henry III, Edward I and Edward III all visited and hunted in Farnham Great Park. Queen Mary I stayed at Farnham Castle en route to Winchester to marry Philip of Spain. A jewelled hatpin thought to belong to Henry VIII was found in Farnham Park in 1999, Queen Elizabeth I visited several times as did James I.

The Civil War temporarily ended the Bishops of Winchesters’ control of Farnham Castle. In 1643 Royalists who held the Castle were overcome by 8,000 of the Parliamentary Army. In 1648 the Castle and its lands were sold and let to private individuals. King Charles I was believed to have stayed briefly at Vernon House during his attempted escape from the Parliamentarians.

With the Restoration, the Castle was returned to the Bishops of Winchester. King George III and Queen Charlotte visited. Bishop Sumner, a benefactor to the poor of north Farnham hosted visits from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. In 1857 Queen Victoria made visits on horseback to inspect the troops at the Aldershot Camp and rode through the Park to the Castle. [Facts sourced from “The History of Farnham Park” by Pat Heather 2009]

• Farnham Hops - The Georgian buildings which grace the town centre were built on the wealth of the hop trade. Most of the houses in and around the town grew hops which were highly prized for their quality – this is noted by William Cobbett. India Pale Ale was made from Farnham hops and was the most popular drink exported to the Indian Empire for around a century. 53 Farnham public houses are listed in Jean Parratt’s ‘Farnham Past’!

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Historical Figures

Name Known as/for Jonathan Swift (1667 – 1745) Author of Gulliver’s Travels Augustus Montague Toplady (1740 – Author of the hymn ‘Rock of Ages’ 1778) William Cobbett (1763 – 1835) Journalist/author ‘Rural Rides’. He was the Poor Man’s Friend, and political journalist. Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910) Pioneer of nursing reform John Henry Knight (1847 – 1917) Inventor (built the first British motor car and designed innovative ‘hop’ digging machines) and founder of the AA Automobile Association. Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 – 1930) Historical writings and creator of Sherlock Holmes George Sturt (1863 – 1927) Author Edwin Lutyens (1869 – 1944) Architect (responsible for Cenotaph in Whitehall) Harold Falkner (1875 – 1963) Architect Mike Hawthorn (1929 – 1959 World Motor Racing Champion in 1958 William Willett Campaigner for daylight saving time 1856 Maud Gonne Feminist and activist – 1866 Sir Peter Pears (1910–1986) Opera singer ‘Silver Billy’ Beldham (1766–1862) Born in Wrecclesham - one of the greatest cricketers in England during the Napoleonic era! James Hockey Principal of Farnham School of Art, later W.S School of Art and Design –now UCA Brian Vesey Fitzgerald Nature writer S.G.Hulme-Beaman Creator of BBC Children’s Hour ‘Toytown’ and Larry the Lamb Isaak Walton (1593-1683) Author of ‘The Compleat Angler’ stayed at Farnham Castle Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-92) Lived at and married Emily Sellwood of Hale Sir James Barrie (1860-1937) Lived a mile from Farnham town centre when writing ‘Peter Pan’. Field Marshall Viscount Lord Bought Isington Mill outside Farnham after Montgomery of Alamein the War and collected his pension from Farnham Post Office! Lord and Lady Baden-Powell Scout and Guide movement lived at Pax Hill, Bentley

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Current Celebrities

Name Known as/for Dr.Jeffrey Tate CBE Conductor of Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, disabled by Spina Bifida, ex Farnham Grammar School Caroline Redman Lusher Founder Rock Choir Lloyd Grossman UCA –Chair of Board of Governors Zandra Rhodes Fashion designer, first Chancellor of UCA to be installed this Spring’10 Heather Angel Wildlife photographer Baroness Bottomley SW Surrey MP 1983-2003 Michael Mates MP Son James Mates ITN Newsreader (mother Mary Neville was Vice President of Farnham Society and lived in Castle Street until died a couple of years ago) Trevor MacDonald TV Newsreader (once lived in High Park Row – children at Park First school and St Andrews Middle school) Desmond Hamill TV journalist (still lives near Farnham at Bentley?) Richard Hoggart Author of the famous work “The Uses of Literacy” Jonny Wilkinson Rugby player Roger Black Athlete Daemon Hill F1 Driver Justin Rose Golfer Rachel Morris Paralympics Gold medallist Graham Thorpe Cricketer Peter Richards Rugby player Joel Freeland International basketball player

Contemporary Issues • The East Street Development (too big) • Traffic and Parking • Overdevelopment – 1000 houses for Badshot Lea, Military lands to be developed ie 4500 houses for Anne: Aldershot and 1500 for Church Crookham and 3.500(?) for Bordon • The loss of the Redgrave Theatre in East Street development • Expansion of Farnborough airport • Water meadows protection • Farnham Park being used as SANGS by Borough Council to allow too much development • Mega recycling facility (largest in EU?) planned for Runfold

Centenaries & Anniversaries • 2010 is the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and Farnham Town Council would like to commemorate the event with a floral display beside the war memorial in Gostrey Meadow • Farnham Design Statement 15 March until 20 April. ‘It’s your opportunity to ensure that the document represents your picture of Farnham, why you like and chose to live in Farnham and what you would still like to see in 50 years time’ • Heritage weekend on 6th September 2010.

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Sites of Interest • Farnham and District Museum • Farnham Castle • Farnham has a Castle and Parish Church dating back to the 12th Century and was the home of the first Cistercian Abbey to be founded in Britain. Farnham Castle, Church (known as St Andrew's Parish Church) and Abbey (know as Waverley Abbey) can all be visited today • Rural Life Centre • Castle Street • Farnham Park • Frensham Ponds • Wrecclesham Pottery • UCA James Hockey Gallery and Craft Study Centre • Ashgate Gallery • Farnham Maltings • Birdworld • Pilgrim’s Way/North Downs Way

Listed Buildings • Grade II Brightwell House and the Redgrave attached to it. • Grade 1 St Andrew’s Church • Farnham Castle • Most of Farnham’s Georgian and medieval buildings!

Suggestions for Parallel Projects • Art & Crafts show • Easter Egg Hunt (2011) or some sort of treasure hunt throughout 2010. • Fair in the Park • Antiques Road Show, Genealogy • Farnham Pottery (Wealden Clay used by Romans and Farnham Pottery Arts and crafts movement ‘Farnham Greenware’) • ‘Lost and/or Found’ bring examples • 1960’s – What did/does the era mean to you? Memories/fashion/music etc • Trace the history of your home – who lived there before or what was there before it was built? • Fashion and architectural heritage across generations

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7 RECOMMENDATIONS

What follows are recommendations, budgets and policies which any new Steering Committee needs to discuss, alter, agree and adopt. These recommendations are made in the light of the specific circumstances of Farnham and the surrounding villages together with 30 years experience of community plays.

Where the Project takes Place

The members clearly wanted an inclusive event that anyone could participate in, that reached out beyond the borders of Farnham to neighbouring villages. We recommend that the name of the project should be descriptive of the project catchment’s area to stress the inclusive nature of the project and should be a name that’s understood locally and by the potential visiting audience. We also suggest that the word ‘community’ doesn’t appear or at least not in the singular. One suggestion has been:

Our Farnham Community Play

The play, once written will have its own title but the project needs a special identity.

In defining an area we recommend that it doesn’t deter people living outside the boundaries from participating. We strongly advise inclusivity. The play however does need to focus on a limited geographic area. We would suggest the project uses the following description of its catchment area:

Ashurst, Blackham, Eridge, Groombridge; Withyham, Speldhurst, Langton Green and surrounding villages but is inclusive of anyone who wants to participate and contribute their energy to celebrating these communities.

The Purpose of the Project and Policies

We recommend that the project adopt the mission statement and follows the criteria of community play that Claque Theatre has developed. The Mission Statement for a Community Play and criteria are as follows:

“To enable the widest possible range of people in a community to produce and participate in an original play of artistic excellence, and contemporary relevance; the process of which releases and develops the thinking, talents and strengths of individuals and the community leading towards further collective and creative activity”

• A Project that not only advocates an ‘inclusive community’ - anyone can participate - but seeks to draw in as broad a cultural cross section of as many people as possible. • The project should practice equal right of access and participation from all section of society irrespective of race, religion, politics, age or disability • Whilst the project may from time to time engage in activities which target specific consumers (youth, disability groups etc) the aim is always towards drawing everyone towards participation within the wider community • Encourages consultation with and participation of youth recognizing them as equal as citizens to participate at all levels and all areas of management, decision making and practice.

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• The project aims not only to developing participation in all arts activities but encouraging new audience to experience contemporary work of high quality. • There should be Community ownership through participation, problem solving, decision-making and creative thinking in all areas of the process. • The play should be a culmination of a purposeful arts and community development programme over a minimum time period of eighteen months or its equivalent. • Guidance and commitment from an experienced team of community arts and theatre practitioners including a full time residency period. The community arts theatre practitioners facilitate, evoke and encourage rather than dictate. • A play especially written for and with the support of the community by a ‘quality’ writer through a process in which the community becomes better informed of itself. Through research, soundings (contemporary observations) the play becomes an expression which is directly related to the differing voices of the community. • The play, whilst capable of being politically and morally tough, offering the community very real and hard challenges, should equally become an honest, shared act of celebration. • The performance should incorporate a style which includes a role for the audience within the performance so they feel they have participated rather than observed. • The process should encourage a commitment to develop future activities after the play is over. Actors into activists. • The process should assume that individual creativeness, if not already evident, is latent and only waiting to be released. The process should enable people, in an atmosphere of safety and supportiveness to reach their fullest potential so they are surprised by what they achieve. • The contributing goal is to raise the quality of the arts in the community and make all aspects of the project available to the largest and widest representation of people as possible and so create a work of art in terms of a community.

It is suggested that the central purpose specific to Groombridge and surrounding villages is to strengthen sense of unity and co-operation between the villages. The play and the process of the project should acknowledge both the shared heritage of the villages and their dependence on each other in the future. The Project should especially work with the young people and the schools of the area and help them in their efforts to forge links with the community. We would recommend special projects be developed as parallel events to the play that would serve to engage young people fully into the project.

As you make applications for funding there will requests for policies and constitutions of various kinds. Likewise we recommend that you discuss, alter and adopt the draft constitution, the equal opportunities, Health and safety and child protection policies that are attached.

The budget and local resources

A big challenge for Farnham is the limited resources in terms of performance, rehearsal and design workshop venues; spaces that that do exist are well used. The project should in no way threaten existing activities, if anything they should support them and wherever possible invite them to participate in the concerted efforts of the play. The lack of space though difficult can be, we believe be surmountable, through negotiation and compromise.

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The space issue is something that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Further investigation into spaces is also needed. A winter performance makes the idea of a tent untenable.

We believe the funding is realistic and offer the draft budget below for discussion.

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Organisation of the Project

We recommend that the communities form a steering committee of local volunteers. Claque will happily attend and advise at meetings. This committee will oversee the project and its finances. Claque can offer its management manual and draft ‘short cut’ documents which help reduce the workload. Further to this we advise a script development team to work with the writer in organising events to find the play. These teams should begin to be effective within three weeks of the public meeting

Production Team

If Claque were to be involved in the project, we would ask that they have control of the artistic values of the play – this would include the selection process of professionals. However Claque commits itself to consultation with the community at all stages. To date the recommendation is that the play is overseen in the early stage by the company’s artistic director Jon Oram and manager Liz Carter.

Timetable

We have attached a draft time table overleaf for the play project having discussed with the set up team that December 2011 is the best time for production.

Policies and Important Documents

We enclose our key company policies including our Equal Opportunities Policy and the Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy. We recommend the Steering Committee adopt these policies for use during the production of the community play and all related activities.

The other important documents enclosed are the Constitution of the Farnham Community Play and the Volunteer Practice Guide both of which we recommend as essential and useful.

END

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